How to Enable Reader Mode in Google Chrome?

Reader mode enables user to remove unnecessary clutter on the webpage. This helps to read the page without distraction like advertisement, sidebar and promoted content. Some browsers like Apple Safari offers reader view as a default feature. Google Chrome is a popular browser, however it does not offer reader view option. However, you can use experimental flag to enable reader mode in Google Chrome browser.

How to Use Reader Mode in Google Chrome?

Alternatively, you can directly go to the URLchrome://flags/#enable-reader-mode to filter the “Enable Reader Mode” flag.

Access Reader Mode Flag with Direct URL

This is flag is available in Mac, Windows, Linux and Chrome OS. By default, the flag will be disabled on your Chrome browser. Click on the “Disabled” button and choose “Enabled” option.

Chrome will prompt you to relaunch the browser. Click on the “Relaunch Now” button to reopen the browser. Remember to logout from the websites and save all your work before you enable the flag.

Now you have enabled reader mode in Chrome. You can click on the three
dots settings button on top right corner that shows “Customize and control
Google Chrome” when hovering the mouse over it.

You should see an addition menu item “Distill Page” indicating the
reader mode is enabled on your browser.

Distill Page Menu in Chrome Settings

Reader Mode in Chrome Canary Version

If you are using Chrome canary version, then reader mode flag will also enable an icon on the address bar. You can easily click on the icon to enable reader mode to view the simplified page.

Reader Mode Icon in Chrome Canary Version

Checking Reader Mode in Chrome

Now,
open any of your favorite webpage. Go to “Settings > Distill Page” to remove
the advertisements and other junks from the webpage to view it in reader view.
Below is an example of the original CNN webpage in Chrome.

Normal CNN Webpage with Advertisements

Here is how it will look when viewed in reader view in Chrome stable version.

Reader Mode in Google Chrome Stable Version

Issues with Chrome Reader Mode

Unfortunately
Chrome reader mode is not much useful, as it does not filter the content
properly. Most of the time it shows a box with few lines instead of the full
content. For example, below is the CNN home page with Chrome reader view.

CNN Home Page with Reader Mode in Chrome

In Canary version, you can toggle the normal and reader mode using the icon. However, this is not possible with the stable version as there will be no icon. In addition, the reader mode will change the webpage to “Not Secure” and show it in the browser even though the original page is secured with HTTPS protocol.

Comparing Safari and Firefox Reader View

Reader view became popular with Apple promoting the feature with its iconic Safari browser. This feature is available by default in Safari browsers for iOS and macOS. If you are a Mac or iPhone user, you can easily check the reader view function in Safari is much better than Chrome’s experimental feature.

Safari Reader View in Mac

Firefox reader view is also good, however it does not show on all the pages. When supported, you can click on the reader view icon on the address bar to remove the clutters.

Firefox Reader View

On
Safari and Firefox, you can easily toggle the modes by clicking or tapping on
the “Reader View” icon on the address bar. However, it is not possible to do so
on Chrome stable version, as the URL will completely change when you distill
the page with reader mode.

Why Google May Not Promote Default Reader View in Chrome?

It’s
obvious that Google may not promote this reader view as Apple does for Safari.

Google’s primary source of income is advertisement. If visitors remove
the advertisements with reader view then it will have direct impact on Google’s
revenue.

Chrome has +60% of market share in the browser market. Adding such a
feature will have huge impact for Google.

Even if Google implements this feature in future versions, it will for name shake like ad block feature.

Alternate: Reader Mode Extension for Chrome

The
best option is to go for a third-party extension for Chrome.

Go to Chrome Web Store and search for “reader view” extensions.

You can find few extensions and click on the “Add to Chrome” against
the “Reader View” extension to install on your browser.

Features of the Reader View Extension

The
Reader View extension uses Firefox readability library to remove the clutter.
It adds a book icon on right of browser address bar. Open any webpage and click
on the extension icon to view the content in reader view.

Chrome Reader View Extension When Enabled

Toggle the reader view by clicking on the icon.

Enable or disable images.

View the content in full screen mode.

Dictate the content to hear the audio.

Save or print the HTML page.

Increase or decrease the font size.

You can also right click on the extension icon to select “Options” and customize the features.

Chrome Reader View Extension Settings

Conclusion

Reader
view or reader mode is a useful feature for removing the images, backgrounds
and advertisements. In order to enable reader mode in Google Chrome, you can
try the experimental flag with stable or canary version. If you want to have
perfect reader mode then try using the extension.

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